Muslim Dress Gets Gaithersburg Player Barred From Basketball Game

GAITHERSBURG, MD — The nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), announced it's working with officials at the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association on a policy update and possible diversity training after a Muslim student at Watkins Mill High School in Gaithersburg was prevented from playing in a basketball game because of her religious head scarf, or hijab.

CAIR said the 16-year-old junior was barred from the final varsity game, although she had played wearing a hijab all season.

Officials at the game cited a rarely-enforced rule that requires "documented evidence" of a request for religious attire. The rule is enforced at the state level, and comes from the National Federation of State High School Associations.

According to WTOP, the student Ja'Nan Hayes joined her other teammates at the regional finals in Prince George's County. Hayes' coach usually puts her in during the fourth quarter, but Hayes sat on the bench for the entire game.

“My coach had pulled me aside, and she had said that she was sorry that I couldn’t play. But there was a state rule saying that I have to have a letter to play with my hijab on,” said Hayes.

"There is obviously a need to update the existing policy so that athletes of all backgrounds may practice their faith without such unfortunate incidents occurring," said CAIR Maryland Outreach Manager Dr. Zainab Chaudry. "Athletic officials should also undergo diversity training to ensure that they are aware of the religious needs of a diverse student population."

The varsity basketball coach coach, Donita Adams, told WTOP that three minutes before the game started, a referee told her that Hayes would not be able to participate unless she had a religious exemption letter from the state to wear religious headgear during the game.

“I didn’t agree with what was going on. She played all 24 games and then on the 25th game she wasn’t able to play,” said Adams. “We’re just trying to figure out why there needs to be documentation and for what cause, because everyone deserves to play.”

Adams also said that on Ash Wednesday, multiple girls on the basketball team took the court with an ashen cross on their foreheads. They were not prevented from playing.

Along with the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association, CAIR is working with the Hayes' family to figure out the situation.

Photo: CAIR